Question and Answer

Evangelism without Decisional Regeneration

Question:

Can you give me some references of Reformed authors who are experts in evangelism who avoid the trap of "decisional regeneration" so rampant here in North America for the past century or two?

Answer:

[Editor's note: Those unfamiliar with the term "decisional regeneration" may find these comments helpful:

There is a popular misconception that being born again results from a person's decision to invite Christ into his life. This view is widely held in Baptist, Nazarene, Wesleyan, Pentecostal and independent churches. It is the view of most evangelists doing area-wide crusades. One such evangelist actually wrote a book entitled How to Be Born Again (as if the Holy Spirit needed instruction!). This view may be designated decisional regeneration. It is demonstrably faulty, for it contradicts the express teaching that being born again is not "of the will of the flesh" (See John 1:12-13.) What does this mean? The New International Version renders this: "not of human decision." John's point is that an individual by making a decision does not cause his own new birth.

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